The moves were criticized by Democrats and some Republicans as, variously, providing little real help, an unconstitutional power grab from Congress, and a backhanded way to defund Social Security and Medicare.
President Donald Trump’s move to halt the collection of taxes that fund America’s main support programs for the elderly spurred a wave of political opposition and threatens to generate tension between employers and workers.
President Donald Trump announced four executive actions on Saturday, including continued expanded unemployment benefits and a temporary payroll tax deferral for some workers, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hobble the U.S. economy.
Just eight loans had been made as of late July, six of them through a single community bank in Florida, according to new data on the federal rescue program for small and midsize companies hurt by the pandemic.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said he will introduce legislation to tax what he called the “obscene wealth gains” from billionaires during the coronavirus crisis.
Democrats are demanding more Republican concessions to meet an end-of-the-week deadline for a deal on pandemic relief, and one of the chief White House negotiators warned there is little time left for negotiations.
The Internal Revenue Service is sending $500 payments to the children of some stimulus relief recipients who hadn’t gotten that part of the aid package after lawmakers complained that the agency wasn’t moving fast enough.
White House and Democratic negotiators driving toward a deal on a final massive virus relief package by the end of the week still must overcome a raw mix of election-year pressures, internal GOP splits and a profound lack of trust between the parties.
Several unemployed workers described the difficulties they are facing to senators as congressional leaders continue negotiations.
Talks to break an impasse over a new virus relief package become increasingly urgent this week with millions of jobless Americans left without additional aid, and the Senate scheduled to leave for an extended break on Friday.